The Slayton House theater in the Wilde Lake Village Center in Columbia continues its "Marvelous Movies and More" series with "Pygmalion" (1938), the film adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's play starring Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller, tonight at 7: 30 p.m. Dessert and coffee will follow the show and film historian David Pierce will lead a short discussion. Tickets are $6. Subscriptions to the series' 10-movie program -- which this season will include "The Beloved Rogue," "Double Indemnity," "The Letter" and King Vidor's "The Crowd" -- for $48. Other rarely seen films will be shown, including the 1934 melodrama "Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back," Frank Capra's "American Madness" and Ernst Lubitsch's "One Hour With You." Three silent films will be shown, all accompanied by pianist Roy Brubacher. For more information call 410-730-3987.
Extras needed
Barry Levinson is looking for extras to appear in "Liberty Heights," the fourth installment of his Baltimore film cycle. Set in 1954, the film will focus on growing up in Baltimore's ethnically segregated neighborhoods. Anyone interested in a walk-on or background role may attend an open audition/sign-up at Planet Hollywood at Harborplace, Pratt Street Pavilion, on Saturday, Sept. 12, from noon until 7 p.m. No acting ability is required. Participants need not prepare anything. Simply show up and sign up! Sixteen-to-25 year-olds are especially encouraged to apply; please bring a non-returnable snapshot. Snapshots may also be mailed to: Liberty Heights casting, Suite 3500, 222 St. Paul Place, Baltimore, Md., 21202. Include your phone number.
'The Thief'
Cinema Sundays kicks off its 13th season Sunday with a screening of "The Thief," an Academy Award nominee for best foreign language film that tells the story of a single mother raising a son in 1952 Russia. NPR and WETA film reporter Pat Dowell will introduce the film and lead a post-screening discussion. Memberships for this season's 10 programs are $145 (current members may renew for $125). Membership privileges include a package of movie and restaurant passes worth $100. Filmgoers who want to see Sunday's film only will be seated according to availability; admission is $15. Cinema Sundays takes place at the Charles Theatre, and doors open at 9: 45 a.m. For more information call Diane DiSalvo at 410-727-3464.
Millennium documentaries
Meanwhile, Levinson has also signed on to direct and executive produce a documentary for a Showtime series commemorating the millennium. Levinson will make an hour-long film about visions of the future. Directors Norman Jewison, Garry Marshall, Gregory Nava, Robert Townsend and Robert Zemeckis will also contribute documentaries on the influences that have shaped society over the past 100 years. The millennium series will air throughout 1999.
'Captain Blood'
The Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park of Ellicott City will present a special screening of "Captain Blood," the 1935 action-adventure starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland, during its second annual Heritage Weekend. The film will be shown Sept. 18 and 19 on the grounds of the institute, which is located in historic Ellicott City with views of the Patapsco Valley. Gates open at 7 p.m. and screenings begin a dusk. Advance tickets are available for $6 ($5 for students and seniors). For
more information call 410-465-8500.
'Seven Brides'
Tickets are still available to the Sept. 17 screening of "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" at the Senator. The film's leading lady, Jane Powell, will be in attendance at the show, and will be honored at a pre-screening dinner. Tickets to the screening and a dessert reception are $35; guests can attend the dinner reception with Powell as well as the show.
Proceeds will benefit the Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation (GEDCO), a non-profit provider of affordable housing and social service programs for senior citizens, low income families, homeless men and women and people with psychiatric disabilities.
7+ For more information call 410-433-2442.
Highlandtown's jewel
When the Southeast Development Inc., the economic arm of the Southeast Community Organization, bought the Grand Theatre in Highlandtown for $210,000 at auction on Wednesday, Baltimore came one step closer to a full-fledged film center in the area. "Now it's time to do the numbers," said Sen. Perry Sfikas, who sits on the board of the Fells Point Creative Alliance. The Creative Alliance, along with the Southeast Merchants Association and the Southeast Community Organization, has been spearheading efforts to revitalize the Highlandtown neighborhood as an arts center. The Grand project is the "crown jewel" in that effort, said Sfikas, who added that the re-habbing of the Patterson movie theater -- which will become studio, gallery and living space for a dozen artists -- are under way. The Grand complex will be run by Orpheum owner George Figgs, who wants to turn the 1914 playhouse into a three-auditorium theater for revival, independent and foreign programming, as well as production facilities. "The main thing was to get [the Grand] into our hands," Sfikas said of the purchase. "This is the building that has represented Highlandtown for the longest time."
A world view
Figgs reported with delight last week that "A Taste of Cherry," the Abbas Kiarostami film he ran at the Orpheum last week, played to sold-out houses nearly every night.
Figgs noted that at least half of the audience members were from Iran or other Middle Eastern countries, "proving a theory I've had all along" that Baltimore has a significant audience for international film. Figgs plans to bring in such acclaimed movies as "Gabbeh," Kiarostami's "Through the Olive Trees" and films from Africa, South America, the Middle East and Asia throughout the autumn and winter.
He is also planning a retrospective of films by Akira Kurosawa, the hugely influential Japanese director who died last weekend. Stay tuned.
Pub Date: 9/11/98